Neil Young Turns 80: 80 Artists Share Their Favourite Songs with Stereogum Including an Incredible Story from Dave Stewart

Neil Young has always been the maverick of rock music. From his folk roots to his grunge influence, his catalogue spans decades of fearless creativity. To celebrate his 80th birthday, Stereogum asked 80 artists to pick their favourite Neil Young track – and the responses are a testament to his enduring impact.

Among the contributors is Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, who shared a brilliant story about his early obsession with Neil and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Dave recalled how, after buying his first electric guitar against the wishes of his acoustic band Longdancer, he fell in love with the riffs of Southern Man and Cowgirl in the Sand. His band was signed to Elton John’s Rocket Records, and one day they got an unexpected call: Neil Young wanted to play at London’s legendary Speakeasy club and needed a PA system. Longdancer brought theirs, and Dave found himself sitting just four feet away from Neil, watching him perform through their gear. “It was extraordinary,” Dave said. “Experiencing Neil Young performing in such a tiny space was unbelievable. We all had our jaws on the floor.”

That moment clearly stayed with Dave, and it’s a perfect example of how Neil’s music connects across generations and genres.

Other Highlights Worth Noting

Several other artists in the feature share a similar spirit of independence and innovation that resonates with Dave Stewart’s own career:

• Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) chose Hey Hey My My (Into The Black) and shared a story about persuading Neil to open a set with that iconic riff. Tom’s activism and fearless approach to music echo Neil’s ethos – and like Dave, he’s never shied away from using his platform for change.

• Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo) picked Ohio and reflected on Neil’s influence on his art and film work. Mark’s experimental streak and multimedia ventures mirror Dave’s own creative leaps into film, photography, and immersive projects.

• Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) selected Pocahontas and spoke about discovering Neil’s music later in life, calling him a hero. Stipe and Dave share a common thread as artists who pushed boundaries in the alternative scene while maintaining authenticity.